MIL-STD-2073.pdf

This is an informational guide for packaging and marking procedures applicable to Department of Defense (DoD) contracts and solicitations. The guide is not an officially adopted DoD standard but serves as an educational reference derived from current government packaging documents, pamphlets, and technical manuals.

The guide covers locations where packaging requirements appear in solicitations and contracts (Sections A through J), with emphasis on hazardous materials requirements that must comply with modal regulations including Title 49 CFR for land transport, IMO/IMDG for water, ICAO/IATA for commercial air, and AFMAN 24-204_IP for military air transport. The document details five basic military preservation methods: Method 10 (physical protection), Method 20 (preservative coating only), Method 30 (waterproof protection), Method 40 (watervaporproof protection), and Method 50 (watervaporproof with desiccant). Specific packaging methods (31-45, 51-52) are illustrated with detailed diagrams showing preservation, wrapping, cushioning, and containerization requirements. The guide includes packaging requirement codes (PRC) used in MIL-STD-2073-1E that translate contract specifications into actionable packaging instructions, with codes addressing quantity per unit pack, intermediate container quantity, cleaning and drying procedures, preservative materials, wrap materials, cushioning, container types, and unit container levels. Quality assurance provisions specify visual preservation examinations, leakage tests, and heat-sealed seam tests per Appendix G of MIL-STD-2073-1E(1). The guide provides examples of unit, intermediate, and exterior container markings including identification markings (NSN, CAGE code, part number, contract number, preservation method and date), bar codes, address markings using Military Shipping Labels, and special markings for shelf-life, project codes, fragile items, Method 50 packaging, ESD-sensitive devices, and hazardous materials. Additional requirements address heat-treated wood packaging material markings, palletization standards per MIL-STD-147, passive RFID tag specifications, and references to key specifications including MIL-STD-129 (military markings), MIL-DTL-117 (heat-sealable bags), MIL-DTL-6060 (watervaporproof bags), ASTM D3951 (commercial packaging), and ASTM standards for box closure and container fabrication.